lostcarnival | ⇨ FOURTH WALL EVENT! (OPEN TO ALL)

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⇨ FOURTH WALL EVENT! (OPEN TO ALL)

Who: Everyone and the 4th Wall Visitors!
When: Day 175
Where: Heartstone Manor
What: THE 4TH WALL BALL BEGINS! This is where unapped visitors can post and roleplay. Please read the rules and setting info below. For more information and visuals refs, read this. Questions can be asked over here.
Warnings: Individually marked! Could be a lot of things.

THE GRAND BALL↴

Heartstone Manor is a giant, spooky castle floating in the middle of a twilight filled void. It is the home of a Wyld Fae calling himself The Prince - and despite his name, he is a bestial creature crammed into a gentleman's clothing, completely obsessed with replicating the ideals of old timey human society, much like the 1800's. The Prince and his many servants all dress in a manner appropriate to to the 1500's - 1800's, and decorum and beauty are held sacred above all else. All the workers of the carnival are currently staying there, in the hope of enabling a successful diplomatic venture between the Ringmaster and the Prince. The Grand Ball is being thrown by the Prince to honour these guests, but his manner of doing this is going to come as a bit of a surprise.

THE RULES↴

Powers are all partially nerfed for 4th Wallers. They can be used in small to moderate ways for the sake of RP and narrative flavour, but 4th Wallers shouldn’t generally be using any powers in a super disruptive manner. No using powers for fighting with NPCs (yet), causing general chaos, or otherwise making your character a burden to the Prince. If they try, they’ll find themselves unable to do so.
Your character isn’t sure how they got here but they think they’re okay with it. Your character won’t remember how they were captured by the Prince at the start of the ball. They’re just kind of here and in formal wear, and something tells them it’s probably fine to just enjoy the ball. They are wrong.
In-game characters won’t initially remember how they all ended up at the ball either thanks to a temporary amnesia effect, but they will be able to be concerned about the fact that other people (possibly people they know) have shown up, and the fact that those other people are probably the Prince’s captives. Weren’t they doing something else at the castle before this, though? It’s hard to remember. This is all very confusing.
4th Wall character who aren’t apping in were possibly never the real deal in the first place. There are a mixture of genuine captives and spooky replications created with magic – this is to provide some flexibility regarding 4th wall character’s states in game, as well to allow more than one of each character to be played. If there are multiple people playing the same character, then whichever one has an app accepted will have been the real one.
No doubles of in game characters. (Taken list here.) No AUs, no CRAUs, and nothing else besides characters that have full source canons or are original characters/fandom OCs with no bearing on the canon plot. If you tag in with a character who breaks these rules we reserve the right to remove them.

THE SETUP: 4TH WALLERS↴

With incredibly foggy memories of their recent past, your character will find themselves at a grand ballroom dance, filled with a mixture of normal humans and odd looking humanoids that have strange features like wings, horns, tails, fur, and the like. They have vague memories of being dressed for the occasion, but are not sure by who or why. Most disturbingly, they will find that, at first at least, they don’t really care about the details. It seems like a pleasant event, doesn’t it? Why not enjoy it.
This effect is definitely some kind of mind control, so you can feel free to have your characters be a bit confused and conflicted about it. Ultimately, they have been charmed to participate in the dance, so they will feel like riding the wave is the best thing to do even if that wouldn’t normally be their cup of tea. If your character has resistances to some forms of mind control, they are still overruled in this circumstance.
They may discover people they recognize (castmates) or even duplicates of themselves (somehow?), and these can all be treated as canonly occurring and played out as such. This event is canon for Lost Carnival, so it should be played seriously and respectfully – not that silly shenanigans aren’t also bound to happen.
All characters are required to dress in formal attire appropriate to a period area – specifically anywhere from the 1500s to 1800s. The Prince prefers if people are heteronormative in their clothing choices, but if you want you can probably get away with your ladies wearing suits or men wearing dresses as long as they look presentable otherwise.

THE SETUP: MANOR GUESTS↴

You find yourself at the Grand Ball without really remembering how you got here. The last few days are a foggy blur, and though you can remember some of the important stuff you were dealing with, it will feel less important right at the start. Of course, as the night goes on, memories of how the carnival reached this event will become more and more clear – as well as the inevitable worry and stress that comes with it.
For most people, there will have absolutely no memory of anything that happened after the morning of Day 175. Did the boating trip ever happen? Possibly not. Even as the night progresses, they will still have no recollection of how most of Day 175 went, which is probably disturbing. The Mod has contacted those that are exceptions to this privately to tell them what they will remember.
The people lost to the Manor’s security earlier in the week will be here too, but not as guests. In fact, all of them will be dressed in the black attire of a Heartstone Manor servant and will seem pretty okay with that fact. There are parts of them that look changed – and their dispositions are definitely one of them. How else could they possibly be working for the Prince now?
Updates to the event situation will be posted down in this section below. People can react to these posts as the circumstances change, and may new top levels based on them. It is possible to try to sneak away from the ball, but Manor Security will be trying to hunt you down. There is no mandatory outcome planed to this event, so character decisions can and will have a major effect in where the plot goes from here.

THE ACCOMODATIONS↴

MUSIC AND DANCING: There will be music playing the whole night, and most of it is so good you feel practically compelled to dance to it. It's possible to resist, but why would you want to do that, you party pooper?
FOOD AND DRINK: There are circle tables set up with fine silverware, and upon sitting down you will soon have a waiter come back to ask for an order. You can request basically any European cusine and it will be made for you. You will also be given drinks, most of which are alcohol, no matter your age. Fae don't care about children.
BALCONY STARGAZING: There are balconies that are connected to the ballroom in multiple locations that you can step out onto to get some fresh air. You'll see the courtyard of the Manor down below you, but everything beyond that is black, as if the castle is floating within a twilight void. (Because it is.) One small change is that there are stars out tonight, probably added to the sky for the occasion.
ALL NIGHT LONG: The ball will go on far into the early morning. Or, at least, until everyone fucks it up.

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At 9S's question, Cole nods. He still doesn't really know what alive is, but 9S definitely is it. They can talk, he can listen, he can help and hurt. And if 9S doesn't eat or drink or sleep but he's alive...then that makes Cole alive too?

This is confusing.

"You're alive," he says definitively, looking over at 9S. And Cole just stares at 9S a bit longer as if that would somehow make him figure out what makes him alive the same way that Solas is alive the same way that lizards, the people here, and maybe Cole are alive. A few moments later, he comes upon something. "You hurt. Maybe hurting means you're alive."

Geez, way to make things a bit morbid there, buddy.

Good. For some reason, the confirmation that he's alive, even from a total stranger, meant more to him than logic would dictate. But at the mention of hurt, 9S mentally stutters.

"I..."

The pieces click together. The way Cole seemed to know when he had been thinking about 2B. The way Cole seems to be able to poke past his behaviour and pick at what's underneath, just like Reira.

A pause, before he says with a frown, "You're getting into my head and reading me, aren't you?"

Must be something about kids or kid-like people that lets them do this. 9S is a little upset, he doesn't particularly like having people root around in his head, but Reira had been unable to control it. But he sounds more annoyed than genuinely hurt from the realisation.

"Can't you turn that off?"

"Can't you turn off thinking?"

That's a no, 9S. Reaching in and finding thoughts and spotting the hurts is something as intuitive for Cole as thinking is for 9S. He just can't stop doing it. It's part of his nature. (Though he does feel a bit guilty about the way 9S looks at him, the way he frowns. But this isn't his fault.)

Well actually....

"Actually, I'm mechanical, so... yes." Technically, they could... but that would involve ripping out out a lot of their personality... "But I guess it's different for you, huh?"

9S lets out a sigh.

"It's fine." It's not really, but if Cole can't control it, there's nothing to be done. It's just too bad he can't peek into Cole's head in return... "You hurt, too, right?"

That's what the whole thing about Solas leaving was about, wasn't it?

Cole nods. It is different. And he does hurt. But unlike 9S, Cole knows that he can't just reach into his own mind and make himself forget. That wouldn't solve this problem.

"I miss him." It's said as if it's the simplest thing in the world as Cole looks down at the floor, not meeting 9S's eyes.

The words send a pang of sympathy through 9S.

While 9S was the one who voluntarily separated himself from 2B for the opportunity presented by the Carnival -- it's fine if she never knows he was gone, right? -- he understands what it's like to have someone so important become unreachable. The ache of being separated, not just from her but all of YoRHa, it echoes within him. Even though there's plenty of good people he enjoys being with in the Carnival, the yawning abyss of separation from his own kind...

...He never thought it would hurt even more than being alone down on Earth, with only his pod and a flimsy connection back to the Bunker for company.

"...I know," 9S says quietly. "Being alive is... full of pain. Sometimes, it hurts so much to live that it seems easier to die. But all the pain means the time with those you care about," those you love, "are more precious, like a light when you're drifting in a sea of darkness." A small pause, before he continues, "...I'm sorry your friend left. Maybe one day you'll be able to find him."

Edited (What is reading comprehension) 2017-10-22 15:50 (UTC)

Congratulations 9S, you are rising up in the ranks of 'people who know things' in Cole's mind. Because he's able to explain it so well and put it together so well that Cole can't help but nod in agreement. It hurts to be alive. But then he talks with friends and sees smiles and feels the fires inside and everything is just right.

"Thank you," Cole remarks, with a little nod. "I hope you're able to find her as well."

Because of course Cole can see that 9S misses 2B. Isn't it obvious? The feeling is so strong it threatens to swallow the other android whole at times.

This time, 9S smiles.

"I know we'll meet again, so I can bear it. I'm on a contract with the Ringmaster for a year and a day, so once I complete my end of the bargain, I can go home to her."

W-wait, that makes it sound like they're lovers or something. Which they're not. But he can't deny that he does feel something special for her...

"I only have to work, uh. 345 more days."

Nevermind that that's longer than the entire length of his current memories.

What matters is the hope. Hope's good. He can tell that there's hope just from 9S's words. And you can be certain that no matter what, Cole's going to try his hardest to help keep that hope burning, push down the worries, and make it so that 9S sees 2B again, dammit!

Unfortunately, a new wrinkle has added itself to Cole's mind. 345 days is a long period of time, right? Maybe? Cole's not so sure. 345 days certainly sounds long, but Cole doesn't really want to judge or guess, especially since androids might do time differently.

"Is that long?"

It's a long time... longer than he can remember being alive, but shorter than the span of his collective existence, which is still only a fraction of the time people in the Carnival have been alive for. But that's only because YoRHa are the latest android models. Other models... They've lived for much, much longer.

"It's longer than any other time I've been apart from her."

But it doesn't matter how long he has to be away from her, as long as they will meet again.

"I'll be fine. I used to work solo missions before I met her, so I can handle myself." And he's not really alone here... "How long have you been alive for anyway? You sounded unsure."

That's a good question. He's been like this, like the current Cole for a year or so, but before that? When he wasn't Cole, when he was just a spirit? He honestly has no idea. Those memories are faded, fuzzy, far away. He's not able to answer 9S's question and that annoys Cole more than he's like to admit.

"I don't really know," Cole answers, with a frown. "It's a haze. Spirit turned mixture turned something else entirely."

He's unsure for a reason.

Okay then. Another weird answer! One day he'll work out what this guy means when he says all this cryptic stuff. It's like a hacking puzzle he can't help but try and solve.

"Anyway, now that we've established you're alive, you should dance with someone!"

Cole frowns, mulling things over, before he asks,

"Can I dance with you?"

9S already knows a lot of things so surely 9S would know how to dance! And also, 9S won't judge him because his dancing sucks! This makes perfect sense in Cole's mind!

"Oh! Uh."

Dancing with someone only has meaning if it's with someone he likes.

But this is practice for Cole, right? So it's not gonna mean much, other than as a means of teaching Cole the skills needed so the spirit can dance with someone he really wants to dance with.

Yeah.

9S holds out a hand. "Alright. I'm new at dancing, but I'll teach you what I know."

Alright! That's good to hear! Blissfully unaware of any personal connotations 9S is attaching to dancing, Cole takes his hand with a little nod.

Unfortunately, he doesn't remember enough about dancing to know where his other arm goes. So it just kind of sits loosely at his side.

Whelp, looks like 9S is gonna be leading this dance.

Patiently, 9S reaches for Cole's other hand and pulls it towards his own shoulder. "Keep your hand on here."

And with that, 9S puts his hand on Cole's waist. This is how it's supposed to be done, right? 9S discreetly peeks at the other dancers, just to check.

"I'll lead the dance. All you have to do is follow my movements, okay?"

At least Cole is a good learner. As 9S moves his hands around and gets into position, Cole just follows what he does to the letter. If 9S wants him to put his hand on his shoulder then buddy, that hand is staying on the shoulder.

But just following movements? "That sounds easy," Cole replies, in a worried tone of voice. Too easy. The spirit isn't naturally a suspicious sort but after watching the dance for the past few minutes, he can't help but be.

9S grins. "That's because it is."

The basics of dancing, from his understanding, is very simple. It's just when people start adding all those other flairs that it gets tricky. But he's sure he could do them! If he tried! And had some practice!

Which isn't what he's going to be trying right now.

"Ready?" Once he gets some kind of affirmation, 9S will lead. Simple waltz steps, mostly in time with the music.

It's a good thing 9S is mostly moving in time with the music because Cole is not moving in time with the music at all. The lack of coordination this spirit has is honestly amazing. As such, he trods on 9S's foot a few times and just generally looks like a nervous wreck.

"How long does this last?"

And can he stop now?

Incredible. Yeah, ow, okay, getting his feet stepped on hurts. But honestly, he's made of metal, it's not a big deal.

"Aw, come on! We only just got started!" 9S lets out a light laugh. He can read between the lines, though. "If you want to stop, we can. It's kinda rude to stop before the song finishes, but we're only practicing. So I don't mind."

Cole kind of wants to stop. But, on the other hand, he doesn't know if 9S wants to stop or not. And if 9S wants to keep going, then of course Cole is going to keep going.

"What do you want to do?" he eventually asks.

He wants to dance with 2B. But that's obviously not happening if she's not here, is it?

"Hey, no fair!" 9S makes an impressive pout. "You're not allowed to push the decision back onto me!"

"I'm not?" Oh dear, is this another rule that he doesn't know? He doesn't know the rules about dancing, maybe there are rules about conversation as well. Cole is taking 9S's complaint very literally as he looks at the android with a frown.

"Why?"

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⇨ FOURTH WALL EVENT! (OPEN TO ALL)

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